She may be unable to compete on the “Road to the LPGA” right now, but Epson Tour rookie and gaming enthusiast Lucy Li (Redwood Shores, California) is finding plenty of time to complete. With the 2020 Epson Tour season still paused, Li has picked up her Nintendo Switch and powered on a couple favorites in The Legend of Zelda and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim.
“Just finished Zelda because I’m a completionist, all 120 shrines and all 77 side quests,” said Li. “I also finished all of the main quests and faction quests for Skyrim. There’s something like 500 side quests in the game and I’m slowly trying to get through it. I don’t know if that’s even possible.”
Golf courses got the green light to reopen last week in Riverside County, where Li is staying with her family. Between gaming and morning practice sessions at Bighorn Golf Club in Palm Desert—to avoid the afternoon temperatures that soar well into the triple digits—all forms of competition keep Li’s competitive edge sharp.
To maintain a fresh mental state, Li picks up a book every now and then. It could be for pleasure, or it could be for one of the two online college courses she’s taking. The 17-year-old has not yet decided on a major, but she is working toward a degree. Her time spent learning through an Ethics curriculum, as well as Professional Writing, is some of the most valuable and enjoyable for Li.
“I’m going at my own pace and the goal is to get a degree as quickly as I can that still accommodates me being able to travel and practice,” Li said. “In the offseason I like to study and get ahead of my schedule so I can progress quickly. I’ve always really enjoyed my studies, learning new things while broadening my horizons. Taking the Ethics course is really interesting, and the different writing skills I’m learning will be a huge help down the road in my career.”
— Epson Tour (@ROAD2LPGA) April 23, 2020
As if her days weren’t busy enough, Li also puts on the chef hat and cooks up some creative recipes she has found.
“During offseason last year, I got into it. And this year, especially, since I can’t go out to eat anymore so it’s even more of a necessity to cook good food,” Li said with a laugh. “In the past, I haven’t had as much time between studying and practicing and traveling.”
She’s tried her hand at several dishes from green curry to spicy fried chicken, as well as baking sweets. However, even her touch on the Nintendo Switch might not be comparable to the homemade pan pizza that Li is crafting.
“My family’s favorite is the pan pizza that I make, and my dad is always begging me to make more,” said Li. “I make that once or twice a week. Then I made spicy fried chicken a couple weeks ago now. That was really time consuming, but so so good. Also baking desserts, including a birthday cake for my cousin’s birthday earlier this month. Mini lava cakes. Brownies. I just love chocolate.”
Keep up with Lucy’s journey through her Instagram and Twitter.